NASP Summer Conferences

Denver, CO: July 12–14, 2010

Conference General Sessions

Tuesday, July 13, 2010
8:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

Presenter biographies are available here.

Threat Assessment in Schools: Designing Safe Interventions for Threatening Behavior (3 credit hours)
Linda M. Kanan, PhD, Colorado School Safety Resource Center, Denver

This session incorporates the latest research into a practical school-based model of threat assessment that includes increasing early awareness of troubled students and breaking the “code of silence” around the reporting of warning signs. The presenter will outline a team process in schools for effective inquiry, assessment, and intervention responses to threats and other potentially dangerous behavior with the goal of designing appropriate intervention plans. Case study examples of student threats, writings, and drawings will illustrate the process, lessons learned, and provide recommendations for psychologists and other school personnel.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010
1:15–4:30 p.m.

Finding the Right Spark: Strategies for Motivating the Resistant Learner at the Middle and High School Levels (3 credit hours)
Jim Wright, MS, School Psychologist, Tully, NY

As middle and high schools institute RTI, poor student motivation is a central concern. This session presents four major approaches to increase motivation and school participation among struggling learners in secondary-school classrooms. The training demonstrates how to: (a) target ‘levers of influence’ in the instructional environment that can increase student work engagement; (b) identify evidence-based ideas to motivate students toward active, accurate academic engagement; (c) empower students to become self-advocates with input into their own RTI plans; and (d) provide feasible strategies for teachers to forge stronger relationships with marginal students.

As a result of attending this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Motivate the struggling student through changes in the instructional environment, social interaction, learning activities, and reinforcement for learning.
• Select intervention strategies that increase the probability that an unmotivated student will engage in academic activities.
• Develop the necessary school supports to encourage students to become self-advocates with a voice in shaping their RTI support.
• Give teachers practical ideas to establish positive connections with all of their students.